[Exploratory studies of the common incidence of cholelithiasis, status following cholecystectomy and colonic cancer].

For studying the postulated relationship between prior cholecystectomy, cholelithiasis, and occurrence of subsequent colorectal cancer, we examined in a retrospective study autopsy cases to get information about the frequency of them. The material consisted of 10,000 cases (female:male = 1,08:1) with an age maximum in the 8. decennium. Among them were 2457 (902 male and 1555 female) cases of cholelithiasis and 646 (211 male and 435 female) cases of cholecystectomy. 449 colorectal cancer were found, altogether. The incidence of cancer in cases without gallbladder disease amounts to 4.13%, in cases with cholelithiasis 5.37%, and after cholecystectomy 4.95%, respectively. The results must be discussed with care because Berkon's Fallacy. Further exploratory investigations are necessary.